Randox Health Topham Chase
Grade 3 Handicap,
Aintree 16:05
£120,000 added, 5yo plus,
2m 5f 19y, Class 1   
Friday 7th April 2017

1 Ultragold 50/1
2 Katnap 22/1
3 Portrait King 66-1
4 O O Seven 12/1
29 ran NR: Peckhamecho
Distances: 1l, 6l, nk Time: 5m 27.60s (slow by 6.60s)

50-1 chance Ultragold gives Colin Tizzard a big-race three-timer

Ultragold
© Racehorse Photos

Ultragold
Colin Tizzard registered a 4334/1 treble on day two, Ladies Day, of the 2017 Randox Health Grand National Festival, after Ultragold ran out a game 50/1 winner under 18-year-old Harry Cobden.
 
Always travelling well for Cobden, having his first ride over the Grand National fences, the nine-year-old son of Kapgarde disputed the lead approaching the home turn and after winging the last, kept on resolutely to fend off the challenge of Joseph O'Brien's Katnap 22/1, who was a length behind in second.
 
66/1 shot Portrait King, trained by Patrick Griffin, was six-lengths behind in third with Nicky Henderson's O O Seven (12/1), a neck further back in fourth.
 
A delighted Tizzard said: "It's amazing to win a race like this. His owners [Brocade Racing, P Romans and Terry Warner] are all good owners of ours and got a partnership going. 
 
"He cost a pound or two and whilst he has won six races, he wasn't what we thought we were buying. 
 
"We thought we were buying a three mile and two furlong horse but he is really a two mile or two and a half-mile horse, but he has won a lovely race today. This racing game is amazing."
 
Tizzard was also effusive in his praise of Cobden: "He hunted alongside me as a little boy for a long time and I was just thinking three out, just sit still but I didn't have to say it because he did. 
 
"He has got a brain on him and I bet he enjoyed this. His mum and dad will have as well."
 
Tizzard had earlier tasted victory at Aintree with Pingshou (G1 Crabbie's Top Novices Hurdle) and Fox Norton (G1 JLT Melling Chase).

Randox Health Topham Chase (Grade 3 Handicap)
£120,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m 5f 19y, Class 1
29 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places

Pos D Horse SP Jockey Weight Trainer Age
1st Ultragold (FR) 50/1 Harry Cobden
10-5
C L Tizzard 9
2nd 1 Katnap (FR) 22/1 D E Mullins
10-0
Joseph P O'Brien 10
3rd 6 Portrait King (IRE) 66/1 C O'Farrell
10-0
P Griffin 12
4th nk O O Seven (IRE) 12/1 Nico de Boinville
11-7
N J Henderson 7
5th ½ As De Mee (FR) 8/1j Sean Bowen
10-13
P F Nicholls 7
6th ½ Thomond (IRE) 80/1 S W Flanagan
10-0
N Meade 9
7th 8 Vintage Vinnie (IRE) 16/1 Jonathan Moore (3)
10-5
Miss R Curtis 8
8th nk Henryville 11/1 L P Aspell
10-9
H Fry 9
9th 8 Father Edward (IRE) 100/1 David Noonan
10-0
D Pipe 8
10th Bouvreuil (FR) 9/1 Sam Twiston-Davies
11-0
P F Nicholls 6
11th 1 Irish Cavalier (IRE) 33/1 P Townend
11-11
Miss R Curtis 8
12th 3 Solar Impulse (FR) 100/1 D Crosse
10-2
C N Kellett 7
13th Straidnahanna (IRE) 50/1 Danny Cook
10-8
Mrs S J Smith 8
14th 1 Thomas Brown 20/1 N P Madden
10-9
H Fry 8
15th Mr Diablo (IRE) 16/1 L P Dempsey
10-11
J P Dempsey 8
16th 4 Clarcam (FR) 25/1 B J Cooper
11-7
G Elliott 7
17th 41 Go Conquer (IRE) 9/1 Aidan Coleman
10-4
Jonjo O'Neill 8
PU Alelchi Inois (FR) 25/1 R Walsh
11-12
W P Mullins 9
PU Eastlake (IRE) 14/1 B J Geraghty
11-7
Jonjo O'Neill 11
PU Quite By Chance 33/1 T Scudamore
11-0
C L Tizzard 8
F Third Intention (IRE) 20/1 T J O'Brien
11-5
C L Tizzard 10
F Bright New Dawn (IRE) 33/1 L Treadwell
10-12
Miss V Williams 10
F Gold Present (IRE) 12/1 J McGrath
10-11
N J Henderson 7
F Ballykan 16/1 D A Jacob
10-9
N A Twiston-Davies 7
F Seefood (IRE) 8/1j R Johnson
10-4
Dr R D P Newland 10
F Imjoeking (IRE) 33/1 D R Fox
10-0
Miss Lucinda V Russell 10
F Long Lunch 66/1 J M Davies
10-0
C E Longsdon 8
UR Katachenko (IRE) 25/1 W T Kennedy
10-0
D McCain Jnr 8
UR Gowanauthat (IRE) 50/1 Harry Bannister (3)
10-0
C J Mann 9
NR Peckhamecho (IRE) James Best
10-0
Mrs S Leech 11

DANNY BUOYED BY KATNAP
 
Jockey Danny Mullins was close to making his first ride over the National fences a winning one but the Joseph O'Brien-trained Katnap couldn't quite reel in the winner, Ultragold.
 
The 22/1 shot jumped well in the main for the young jockey but his pilot felt that a slight mistake at the fourth last fence put paid to his chances.
 
"He's given me a great spin," said Mullins.
 
"He's just missed the fourth last out I think - the ditch - and it was probably the difference between winning and losing.
 
"Joseph has got him here in great shape and he's run well.
 
"He could be the type to come back here and run another big race next season - he certainly loved the fences."
 
Jockey Nico De Boinville finished fourth on the Nicky Henderson-trained O O Seven and revealed after the race that the 12/1 shot took to the Aintree fences like a duck to water.
 
"He was brilliant - I couldn't have had a better spin round there," said De Boinville.
 
"He absolutely loved these fences so I'd imagine he'll definitely be back and who knows what he could do next time."
 
PORTRAIT IN THE PICTURE 
 
Racehorses owners Douglas Pryde and Jim Beaumont, successful in the 2013 Randox Health Grand National with 66/1 winner Auroras Encore, are compiling a growing list of good results at Aintree.
 
They embellished it further when their horse Portrait King finished third in the Randox Health Topham Chase.
 
The grey 12-year-old, ridden by Conor O'Farrell was 7lb out of the handicap and started at 66/1, but he steadily passed horses in the straight and finished one length and six lengths behind winner Ultragold and runner-up Katnap.
 
Trainer Pat Griffin, who is based in Ireland, "doesn't do boats" according to his son James, who acted as his representative at Aintree today. James added: "We knew the trip [for Portrait King] would be too short, but Conor gave him a peach of a ride. He was told to hunt away, because we knew the fences would take their toll on others, and he likes the track and would tick that box. Hopefully, he will go up a couple of pounds for today's effort and that will help him get into the Becher Chase [at Aintree] in December. 
 
"He was sixth in it last year and fell when looking like he might have won it the year before. He just loves this place and is probably a 7lb to 10lb better horse here than anywhere else. We knew he wouldn't get into the National, so didn't even put him in it, but Jim and Douglas love Aintree and we've got a soft spot for the place, too.

"Softer ground would have helped, but that was a hell of a kick."
 
Pryde and Beaumont won the race before the Randox Health Grand National with 50/1 shot Maggio last year, but that Griffin-trained horse was withdrawn from the big race on Monday with a minor injury. Pryde said: "We just love this place and it seems to love us - we've been coming for many years," while Beaumont said: "The secret is to get a horse that suits Aintree and to keep it fresh for the meeting."
 
O'Farrell was asked about his ride on Portrait King and said: "It went very fast. I was out the back the whole way because he just lacks a gear, but he jumped superbly and I had a great spin off him. I knew from the Melling Road I had only been going through the motions and just popping away, but when I asked him he picked up really well."

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